Honing tool sizing device



Jan, 21, 1958 G, M, CALVERT 2,820,329

HONING TOOL SIZING DEVICE Filed Dec. 17, 1956 2 Shets-Sheet 1 "lINVENTOR,

HONING TOOL SIZING DEVICE Glen M. Calvert, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 17, 1956, Serial No. 628,830

18 Claims. (Cl. 51 34) nitffhisinvention relates to honing apparatus forhoning the bores of workpieces wherein honing devices are oper- -fatedbya-reciprocable shaft or spindle and annular plug gage means encircles orembraces the shaft or spindle and -facts'during operation on the sameend of the workpiece bore as the honing devices enter. In accordancewith the 'operation' of such apparatus the gage means is axially movablerelative to the shaft or spindle and is adapted to have predeterminedoperative entry or passage into the workpiece bore when the bore hasbeen honed to a predetermined diameter, such entry or passage of thegage means `into the bore resulting in the actuation by the gage 'meansof a limit switch or control device which in turn I initiates cessationor termination of the honing operation, .fthe latter being accomplishedby releasing the honing devices from honing engagement with theworkpiece bore.

An important object of the present invention is to provide gage'meanshaving successive portions of varying diameter any one of which may bepre-selected to permit honing of the workpiece bore to the diameterthereof .whereupon a limit switch or control device will be actuated toinitiateV cessation or termination of the honing operation.

A further'object of the invention is toprovide sizing or 'gage means forcontrolling the diameter to which the Vworkpiece bore is to be honed,said means preferably `comprising an elongated tubular gage ring orsleeve mernber provided with two pairs of equally and annularly spacedelongated gage elements or portions projecting r-adiallyoutwardly fromthe body of the gage sleeve mem` vber or ring. In accordance with theillustrated embodiment the outer arcuate gaging surface of each gageelementvis longitudinally tapered in the direction of the .workpiecebore to be engaged by the gage elements upon predetermined entry intothe bore. These longitudinally tapered gaging surfaces progressivelyincrease in effective diameter from their leading or bore entry endswhereby ,aty any preselected point in the length of the gage ring orlsleeve the effective diameter across the gaging surfaces of each pairof opposed gage elements will correspond to a pre-selected diameter ofthe honed workpiece bore. rrhus, -since'the effective diameters of thetapered gaging surfaces progressively increase they will enter theworkpiece bore yduring the honing operation until the parts thereofhaving .the -preselected diameter operatively enter 'the bore whereuponcessation or termination of the honing operation is initiated. j Afurther object of the invention is to provide a variable diameter sizingor gage ring means, such as above indicated, together with adjustablemeans for rendering any predetermined diametrical part of the gage ringmeans effective at .the moment the limit switch or .control deviceisuactuated. v.Such adjustable means may take several different forms.In accordance with the embodiment of ofthe inventionf hereinillustrated, there is provided a xliinit'fswitch adapted tobe actuatedby switch actuating Alr'ie'ar i s in vable axially in unisonfv'vith thevarying diarn- .0.31: ,1 '1` v l v lll'nited States- Pate-nef() etergage ring means. This switch actuating means is adjustable relative tothe limit switch as well as the gage ring means into any one of a seriesof positions, such positions forming in effect a series of spaced steps.Accordingly, actuation of the limit switch is controlled so as to takeeffect when any pre-selected diametrical portion of the gage ringoperatively enters the bore of the workpiece, such portion beingpre-selected by adjusting the limit switch actuating means into theposition in which it will actuate the limit switch when suchpre-selected gage ring portion operatively enters the workpiece bore.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specication wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a view in elevation and partly in longitudinal mid-sectionillustrating a honing apparatus constructed in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

shown in Fig. 1.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also lit is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated an embodiment of a honing tool orapparatus which is attachable at its upper or driven end to theconventional machine spindle. The honing tool, depending upon the typeof machine with which it is used, may extend either vertically, or at anangle such as 45 or horizontally. In the present instance the tool isshown in a vertical position, although it is understood that this ismerely for illustrative purposes.

lIn accordance `with the present embodiment of the invention the honingtool is provided at its lower end with an abrading head 12 carryingradially shiftable circumferentially spaced abrading elements 12a. Theabrading head may be constructed and operated in substantially thesamemanner as the abrading head in my copending application Serial No.390,555. The abrading head 12 is carried by a lower enlarged end of atubular shaft or supporting -member 13 which extends upwardly from theabrading head, The honing tool in the present instance is provided witha .tubular honing tool spindle or spindle member 14 formed at its lowerend with a reduced cylindrical portion 14a telescopically receivedwithin the upper portion of the tubular shaft or supporting member 13and secured thereto against relative displacement. At its upper end thespindle member 14 is provided lwith external threads 15. A tubular pilotmember 16 has a reduced lower portion fitting within the upper end ofthe lspindle 14 and attached thereto through the medium of pins 17.Threaded onto the upper end ofthe spindle member 14 are lock nuts 18.Secured to the pilot mem- `ber.,16 are pins 19 for connecting thepilotmember ``to a. hollow spindle coupling which -in turnlconnected,lin accordance with conventional practice, tosui-tablemechuismfor reciprocating and rotating the `spindle 14, shaft member 13 and theabrading or honing tool head 12.

Extending freely through the tubular spindle member 14 and shaft member13 is a cone rod 20 connected at its lower end to cone means (not shown)for moving the abrading elements 12a radially outwardly against thesurface of the bore W of the workpiece W within which the abrading head12 is located as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. ln the present instance radialoutward movement of the abrading elements 12a is accomplished by axialmovement of the cone rod in a downward direction. -Upon completion ofthe honing operation the cone rod 26 is shifted in an upward directionthereby enabling the abrading elements 12a -to be moved radiallyinwardly free of the work bore W by means of springs (not shown). Theforegoing construction is illustrated in my above identifiedapplication.

The upper end 20a of the cone rod 20 is adapted to be contacted by anincremental feed means, such as illustrated in -my above identifiedapplication. Such feed means progressively forces the cone rod 20downwardly to cause the cone means at the lower end thereof to expandthe abrading elements 12a against the bore W of the workpiece. 'Springrestoring means is provided for shifting the cone rode 20 upwardly whenthe pressure of the incremental feed means is released, thus permittingthe abrading elements 12a `to move radially inwardly. Upward shiftablemovement of the cone rod 20 is accomplished by means of a coil spring 21having the lower end thereof engaging an annular shoulder on the spindlemember i4. The upper end of this spring engages a wash-er 22 embracingthe cone rod 20 and held in posi- 'tion by means of pins 23 secured tothe cone rod. Thus, it will be seen that upon release of downwardpressure on the cone rod 20 by the incremental feed means the spring 21will shift the cone rod 20 upwardly thus permitting lthe abradingelements to collapse under :spring tension.

The honing `tool in :the present embodiment is provided with acylindrical gage control body 24 having the lower lend portion thereofprovided with external threads 25. A gage supporting ring or adapter 26is provided with internal threads engaging the threads 25 on the gagecontrol body 24. The adapter or gage supporting ring 26 is thusadjustable in an axial direction on the lower threaded end of the gagecontrol body 24. At any such adj-usted position the gage supporting ring26 is held against displacement by means of a set screw 27 and a brassplug 27a interposed between the end of the :set screw and the threads25, see Figs. 3 and 4.

Supported beneath and in `s-mooth engagement with :the

bottom surface of the ring member 26 is an annular size gage ring member.28 to the bottom of which is welded a lower size gage ring member 29.The members 28 and 29 form a unitary gage supporting ring. rl`woradially disposed pairs of bolts 30 are provided with :threaded shankswhich are threaded into ta-pped holes 26a in the ring member 26, seeFig. 5. Each bolt 30 terminates at its lower end in an enlarged -head30a. Between this head and its threaded shank each bolt 30 is formedwith a shank 30b enlarged so as to smoothly abut the flat bottom face ofthe ring member 26. Each shank portion 30'b yis disposed in an enlarged=hole extending through the gage ring member 28. An annular space 31 isthus provided around each shank pontion 30b, the height of which issufficient to enable the gage ring member 2S -to be freely disposedbetween the bolt head 30a and the bottom surface of the supporting ring26. The annular space 31 around each shank portion 30b enables thesizing gage support 28, 29 to oat or shift laterally in eitherdirection.

Thus, the annular gage supporting unit or sizing ring 28, 29 ispermitted to shift or float laterally relative to the supporting ring 26a `substantial amount, such as from :ten to thirty thousandths of aninch, depending upon the type of work being honed.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the gage ring 28, 29 is formed with two pairsof oppositely disposed protuberances or projecting portions 32, eachhaving a slot or notch to receive a hard gage wear insert member 33. Thegage supporting ring or adapter 26, see Fig. 4, is machined to providetwo pairs of oppositely disposed flat surfaces 26b which lie inwardly ofthe gage ring projecting portions 32. The gage holder 26 is formed withpairs of annular portions 26e, each opposed pair having less diameterthan the diameter through each opposed pair of outer gaging surfaces 33aof the gage members 33. As shown in Fig. 3, the outer gaging surface 33aof each gage member 33 terminates at its lower end in a tapered leadportion or cam means 33h. These lead portions are adapted to displace orcam the gage ring unit 23, 29 laterally due to their lateral floatmounting on the bolts 30 thereby centering the gage ring unit axiallywith the bore W of the workpiece W. From the tapered lead portion 3311,see Fig. 3, each gage member 33 progressively increases in depth orthickness thereby causing the gaging surface 33a to taper upwardly andoutwardly. It is understood that the pairs of opposed gage members arethe same in construction and that the diametrical relation of thetapering surfaces 33a of one pair corresponds to the other pair.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that each gage member 33 has itsouter bore engaging surface 33a increasing in diameter upwardly from thetapered lead portion 33h. In accordance with the embodiment hereinillustrated, by way of example, the arrows A', B', C', D and E indicatesuccessive points or steps on the gage ring members 33, progressivelyincreasing upwardly in effective diameter, any one of which may bepreselected so that upon operative entry of the gage members at suchpoint cessation or termination of the honing operation will beinitiated. As an example, the gage means in Fig. 3 has entered the boreW to the locality indicated at E', the maximum honing diameter permittedin the illustrated embodiment. When this occurs a limit switch or othercontrol means, as hereinafter described, is actuated to initiatetermination of the honing operation.

interposed between the cylindrical gage control body 24 and the spindlemember 14 is an upper ball race ring 34 which is secured to the spindlemember 14 by means of attaching screws 35. Underlying the ring 34 is asecond ball race ring 36 which is free with respect to the members 14and 24. Interposed between ball race rings 34 and 36 are anti-frictionball bearings. A compression spring 37 is interposed between the ballrace ring 36 and a lower bushing 38 free with respect to the spindle 14and gage control body 24. The bushing 38, engaged by the lower end ofcompression spring 37, is supported on a sleeve 39 press fitted into thegage control body 24 and free with respect to the spindle 14 so as tohave no rotative movement imparted thereto by the spindle. A limitswitch control member or arm 40 is attached to the upper end portion ofthe gage control body 24 through the medium of screws 41.

In the present embodiment the feed means, which may be hydraulic orother suitable mechanism, for shifting the cone rod or shaft 2t), iscontrolled by a limit switch generally indicated at 42 having a switchactuating member 43 adapted to be engaged and actuated so as toterminate the honing operation.

Adjustably mounted on the upper end of the control member or arm 40 is atrip block 44 having a laterally extending arm portion 44a provided witha tapped hole for adjustably receiving the threaded shank of a limitswitch actuator 45. This actuator terminates at its lower end in anenlarged annular actuating member or head 45a. It will be seen that thelimit switch actuator 45 together with its actuating member 45a may beadjusted vertically by reason of its threaded connection with the tripblock arm member 44a. It is held in any adjusted position by means of alock or set screw 46, see Fig. 6,

ment of latch member 53 in latching notch 51.

satana between which and the threaded shank of a brass tting. v f ,y Inthe present embodiment the tripblock 44 is mounted member 45 is forvertical adjustment on the limit switch control mem- 1 ber or arm 40thereby enabling the limit switch actuating member 45a to be adjustablypositioned at variable yselected distances from the limit switchactuating member 43, such adjusted positions being indicated at A, B, C,D and E in Fig. 2. The control member 40 is provided with acorresponding number of notches 47,

48, 49, 50 and 51. The trip block 44 and its arm extension 44a areprovided with a horizontal slot 52 (Fig. 6) which receives a selectorlocking lever or latch member 53 pivoted at 5d to the arm extension 44a.locking lever at one side of its pivot may be disposed This in any oneof the latching notches 47-51, thereby latching the trip block 44 invertically adjusted position on the control member 40. The locking lever53 at the Vopposite side4 of its pivot is offset outwardly in the slot`52, see Fig. 6, and terminates in an enlarged finger Ipiece 53a whichis spaced from the trip block arm ex- ,v tension 44a thereby enablingthe finger piece 53a to be pressed inwardly to disengage the lockinglever or latch This sprin g From the foregoing it will be apparent thatthe latching i of trip block 44 in the notches 47-51 will result inadjust- `ably disposing the switch actuating member 45a respectively atpositions A, B, C, D and E, illustrated in Fig. 2. `With the switchactuating member adjustably set at posi- A"tion A termination of thehoning operation will be effected or initiated upon operative entry ofgage ring portions A' into the workpiece bore. Likewise when the switchactuating member 45a is adjustably set at position B, position C,position D or position E termination of the honing operation will beetected or initiated upon operative entry into the workpiece borerespectively of gage ring portions B', C', D', or E'. As illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3, by way of example, the trip block 44 is disposed at itsuppermost position on control arm 40 by engage- This `adjustment of thetrip block da disposes the switch actuating member 45a in itsfurthermost adjusted position with respect to the limit switch member43, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. By virtue of this adjustment thegage ring members 33 will enter the bore W to the position shown at E inFig. 3, representing the maximum diameter to which the bore is to behoned before terminating the honing operation.

Although in the present embodiment there are ve varying diameter gagering portions or steps A-E, it will be understood that the number ofsteps varying in diameter may be increased ror decreased. The effectivediameters of the gage ring steps, illustrated in Fig. 3, may,

`for example, vary in dimensional increments of one-half j, previouslyrequired in removing and dismantling the tool in `order to change gagerings so as to accomplish the results achieved by the present invention.

I claim:

l. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters. to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising leading means for initially entering the bore and gagering means increasing in one direction in e'ifective diameter relativeto said leading means for selectively controlling the effective diameterto which the workpiece bore is to be honed, switch control meansoperative preparatory to initiating termination of the honing operationby releasing the honing means from honing engagement with the workpiecebore, actuating means movable in unison with said gage unit foractuating said switch control means, and means adjustable in a directionparallel to the axis of said spindle means for varying actuation of saidswitch control means by said actuating means to correspondto operativeentry of any pre-selected diametrical portion of said gage ring meansinto the workpiece bore. ,j

2. ln a honing apparatus for honing the bore of` a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent onee'nd thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end `of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising gage ring means having a leading end adapted toinitially enter the bore and also having beyond said leading end aplurality of successive diametrical gage portions progressivelyincreasing in effective diameter relative to said leading end in adirection away from said leading end, and means controlled by said gagering means for signalling operative entry of any one of said gagepo-rtions into the bore preparatory to initiating cessation of thehoning apparatus.

3. Honing apparatus according to claim 2 comprising means for mountingsaid gage unit for limited but substantially free movement transverselyof the spindle means an amount approximating ten thousandths of an inchor more.

4. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, sai-d gageunit comprising gage ring means having a taper leading end adapted toinitially en ter the bore and also having beyond said leading end aplurality of successive diametrical gage portions progressivelyincreasing in effective diameter in a direction away from said leadingend, control means operative preparatory to initiating cessation of thehoning operation, and actuating means movable in unison with said gageunit for actuating said control means upon operative entry into theworkpiece bore of any preselected diametrical gage portion of said gageunit.

5. Honing apparatus according to claim 4 comprising means for mountingsaid gage unit for limited but substantially free movement transverselyof the spindle means an amount approximating ten thousandths of an inchor more.

6. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising gage ring means having a taper leading end adapted toinitially enter the bore and also having beyond said leading end aplurality of successive diametrical gage portions progressivelyincreasing in effective diameter in a direction away from said leadingend, control means operative preparatory to initiating cessation of thehoning operation, actuating means movable in unison with said gage unitfor actuating said control means, and means for varying actuation ofsaid control means by said actuating means to correspond to operativeentry into the workpiece bore of any pre-selected diametrical gageportion of said gage unit.

7. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable Spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising gage ring means having a taper leading end adapted toinitially enter the bore and also having beyond said leading end aplurality of successive diametrical gage portions progressivelyincreasing in effective diameter in a direction away from said leadingend, control means operative preparatory to -initiating cessation of thehoning operation, actuating means movable in unison with said gage unitfor actuating said control means, and means for adjusting the relativepositions of said actuating means and control means to provide foractuation of the latter upon operative entry into the workpiece bore ofany preselected diametrical gage portion of said gage unit.

8. Honing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said adjusting meanscomprises means for varying the position of said actuating meansrelative to said control means.

9. Honing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said adjusting meanscomprises means for varying the relative positions of said control meansand actuating means.

10. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising leading means for initially entering the bore and gagering portions successively increasing in eiective diameter relative tosaid leading means, switch control means adapted to be actuatedpreparatory to initiating cessation of the honing operation, andadjustable means for permitting operative entry of any one of said gagering portions into the workpiece bore at the moment of actuation of saidswitch control means.

1l. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindie means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit having leading means for initially entering the bore and aplurality of diametrical gage portions successively increasing ineffective diameter relative to said leading means, control means adaptedto be actuated preparatory to initiating cessation of the honingoperation, actuating means movable in unison with said gage unit foractuating sai-d control means, and means for adjusting the position ofsaid actuating means relative to the control means to provide foractuation of the latter upon operative entry into the workpiece bore ofany pre-selected diametrical gage portion `of said gage unit.

l2. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising leading means for initially entering the bore andannularly spaced radially projecting gaging means increasing in eiective(ill diameter in the direction away from the honing means and saidleading means, and means adapted to be actuated preparatory toinitiating cessatio-n of the honing operation upon predetermined entryinto the` workpiece bore of any pre-selected diametrical portions ofsaid gaging means.

13. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising leading means for initially entering the bore andannularly spaced radially projecting tapered gaging means increasing ineiective diameter in the direct-ion away from the honing means and saidleading means, and adjustable means adapted to be set to preselect aneffective diameter of said gaging means and operative preparatory toinitiating termination of the honing operation simultaneously with theoperative entry of such pre-selected diametrical portion of the gagingmeans into the workpiece bore.

14. In a h-oning apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising gage ring means having a plurality of gaging portionssuccessively increasing in effective diameter in one direction, switchcontrol means adapted to be actuated for initiating cessation of thehoning operation, and adjustable means for controlling operative entryof any one of said portions of said gage ring means into the workpiecebore at the moment of actuation of said control means.

l5. Honing apparatus according to claim 14 comprising means for mountingsaid gage unit for limited but substantially free movement transverselyofthe spindle means an amount equal to ten thousandths of an inch ormore.

16. In a honing apparatus for honing the bore of a tubular workpiecehaving reciprocable and rotatable spindle means and honing means mountedadjacent one end thereof, a reciprocable annular plug gage unitencircling said spindle means and operative at the end of the workpiecebore through which the honing means enters to hone said bore, said gageunit comprising gage ring means having a plurality of gaging portionssuccessively varying in elective diameter, switch control means adaptedto be actuated for initiating cessa-tion of the honing operation,actuating means movable in unison with said gage unit for actuating saidswitch control means, an-d adjustable means for varying actuation ofsaid switch control means oy said actuating means to correspond tooperative entry of any one of said portions of said gage ring means intothe workpiece bore.

17. Honing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises means for adjusting the position of said actuating meansrelative to said switch control means.

18. Honing apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said adjustable meanscomprises means adapted to be adjusted to vary the relative positions ofsaid switch control means and actuating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

